PuckSleuth
94

Calgary Flames · Defense · Shoots R

Brayden Pachal

Age 27 · 6'2" · 202 lb · Born in Estevan, CAN

Cap hit

$1.188M

1.1% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$2.513M

vs. $3.7M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2025-26 regular season

GP

39

Goals

1

3.6% shooting

Assists

6

2 primary

Points

7

0.18 per game

TOI/GP

13:53

PP 0:00 · PK 0:45

xGF%

51.6

5v5, +6.5 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.03

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

-1

Blocks 40 · Hits 89

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Apr 16
vs LAK · W 3-1
0000416:080:001:27—6010-1-0.04
Apr 14
vs COL · L 3-1
0001116:370:002:36—2510+1+0.03
Apr 12
vs UTA · W 4-1
1211114:470:032:53—2520+2+1.03
Apr 9
@ COL · L 3-1
0012111:590:000:49—000-1-0.09
Apr 2
@ VGK · L 6-3
0001314:430:000:25—010-2-0.31

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 500 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%51.6%

68th percentile

Relative xGF%+6.1

94th percentile

HDCF%57.8%

88th percentile

CF%48.9%

48th percentile

Relative CF%-0.0

57th percentile

FF%49.9%

58th percentile

GF%48.8%

47th percentile

CF/6058.8

66th percentile

CA/6061.4

21st percentile

ixG/600.13

17th percentile

Goals above expected-0.1

48th percentile

IPP35.0%

55th percentile

PDO98.8

32nd percentile

OZS%49.6%

62nd percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play stylePhysical defensive anchor

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Pachal is a stay-at-home defenseman who wins battles with elite physicality and effort, but rarely generates offense or moves pucks with skill. He excels at shutting down opponents and pushing pace in the forecheck despite limited speed.

Physical presenceDefensive wallEffort-based
Shooting volume
38
Playmaking
32
Zone entries(est.)
75
Forechecking
83
Physicality
97
Defensive impact
95
Puck management
29
Speed
31

Where he shoots from

Slot 7% · Mid-range 15% · Perimeter 78%(46 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Physicality at 97th percentile makes him a punishing defender in any matchup
  • Forechecking at 83rd percentile drives puck recovery and transition starts
  • Defensive impact at 95th percentile shows elite ability to limit opponent chances

Watch-outs

  • Puck management at 29th percentile limits his transition contributions
  • Playmaking at 32nd percentile means minimal offensive support from the point
  • Speed at 31st percentile constrains his reach despite strong positioning effort

Similar style: Cale Fleury (SEA), Ethan Del Mastro (CHI)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 39 GP · goals above average

Season total -1.3 goals, or -0.03 per game.

Even strength defense
+0.2
Penalty kill
-0.1
Finishing
-0.1
Playmaking
-0.8
Penalties
-0.6

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-SOGTOI/GPFO%GS/GP
2025-26CGY39167-12813:53—-0.03
2024-25CGY763912+56114:14—-0.05
2023-24CGY, VGK50257-35214:41—-0.06
2022-23VGK10022+21816:37—-0.16

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 27, defensemen typically produce 97% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed
21.1 mph
30th pct
20+ mph bursts
14
Hardest shot
86.6 mph
30th pct
Distance
75.0 mi
OZ time
41.0%
41st pct
DZ time
40.4%